The Federal Government has officially addressed the long-standing issue surrounding the mobilisation of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, announced on Thursday that only graduates who completed their HND through full-time programmes will be eligible for NYSC mobilisation.
This resolution follows discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, aimed at clarifying the exclusions that previously affected HND holders, particularly those who obtained their National Diploma (ND) through part-time programmes.
Earlier this year, reports emerged about HND graduates facing difficulties in the NYSC mobilisation process, which sparked protests and concerns about fairness. The issue mainly affected those who completed their ND through part-time studies, leading to their exclusion from the scheme.
However, fresh concerns arose when some full-time HND graduates were also left out of the process due to inconsistencies in documentation. Following a review, the Federal Government has now confirmed that full-time HND graduates will be mobilised for NYSC, while those who pursued HND programmes on a part-time basis will remain ineligible.
In response to these developments, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, issued a statement highlighting the government’s commitment to fairness, equity, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system. The statement described the decision as a “significant breakthrough” for full-time HND graduates who had been previously excluded.
To ensure a seamless mobilisation process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. Additionally, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto a newly created HND admission portal.
The Minister emphasised that the mobilisation process will strictly apply to those who completed a full-time HND programme. He also noted that the newly created portal will serve as an official database for NYSC mobilisation, addressing previous challenges related to admission records.
Dr. Alausa urged all eligible full-time HND graduates to take advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilisation without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their contributions to national development through the NYSC scheme.
The statement from the Ministry concluded:
“Following a dialogue with the Director-General of NYSC, the Minister confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can now proceed with their mobilisation.
“To facilitate a seamless mobilization process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates.
“In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal.”
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 graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), confirming that only full-time HND holders will be eligible){kind=link}